A Path to Transformation:
Finding Balance between
Hellenistic and Hebraic Worldviews

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by Harvey L. Diamond

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  What a concept. Is it a reality?  If Psalm 133:1 expresses the heart of God—it is God’s will and hope.

To a world froth with prejudice, social and political conflict, the name Jesus Christ stirs up all types of thoughts and emotions.  Before He was crucified, though, He prayed an incredible prayer He believed the Father would fulfill. Part included:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  (John 17:20-23)

Real Transformation Lost and Found

Many conservative individuals today have become concerned that our postmodern society has lost sight of traditional Judaeo-Christian ethics and values.  They see philosophies tainted with all kinds of spiritual and social relativism becoming pervasive and influencing all sectors of society. What many don’t see, however, is that various strains of perceived religious dogmatism have turned a generation away from God—or at least traditional religious institutions.

The words Lincoln spoke before Congress one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation echo today:  “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.”

Amidst today’s social, political and economic storms placing undue stress on young people, many are actively seeking spiritual reality and authentic standards of moral knowledge and authority.  At the same time, our loving and merciful God seeks personal relationships with those who would agree with the cry of His own heart—that the standards and values of His kingdom would come, and “His will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.” So, what can the concerned do to bring God into the equation of life in a real and relevant way? 

One suggestion is to move from a dominant Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) perspective and interpretation of biblical concepts to a more Holistic Hebraic/Christian view. What do I mean?

Throughout the centuries, philosophers focused on understanding God from intellectual frames of references and styles of reasoning have by and large complicated man’s understanding of God. They have put God in all kinds of boxes and created images, doctrines and dogma about God that fall very short of representing God’s likeness. 

What many have not understood is that God is relational, and seeks to relate with His creation in very personal ways—from the heart. Instead of adopting a relational theology, however, many in the west guided by a Greco-Roman perspective have been influenced by rational theologies. Could history be repeating itself? Have we not understood what God tried to communicate by the Hebrew prophet, Isaiah? "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Friends, your DNA was created with an incredible capacity to glean revelation truth and wisdom from God’s Word. Your heart was created to receive instruction direct from God! You truly have been given the capacity to connect with God’s Holy Spirit, and receive illumination, spiritual vision and comfort of heart to live a victorious life.

For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

It simply takes eyes of faith and the help of the Holy Spirit. Before the Lord ascended to heaven He instructed His disciples how this happens:

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…(John 16:12-13)

Our challenge is to ask God to reveal His truth to us. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-9)

What is a Holistic Hebraic-Christian Perspective?

God originally communicated with mankind in the Hebrew language to the Hebrew people, and related to them by addressing their Hebraic mindset.  He made a series of covenants with the Hebrew people, and delegated to them the responsibility of communicating and demonstrating His words and ways to the nations. Unfortunately, we misinterpreted much of God’s concepts and fell short of achieving the mission.  
           
Jesus Christ, however, believed by a countless number of people to be the Hebrew Messiah, fulfilled God’s purpose as foretold by the Hebrew prophets. He related to the people through personal engagement; demonstrating and explaining the goal of the law and its inherent values. He addressed the people from a Hebraic perspective. He gave hope to those He touched.  
           
Many grasped hold of what He communicated and received what He imparted. Others misunderstood and misinterpreted the thrust of His mission. Gaps in understanding have continued to emerge over the years.  This is due to in part to the various forms of social and political conflicts that carried on through the evolution of religious thought, causing much of the Lord’s perspective to be lost, and replaced by streams of Greco-Roman or Hellenistic thought.

Appreciating a Hebraic, or more holistic biblical perspective, can provide insight and clarity into God’s purposes and ways. It was from this very perspective that the Lord said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you concealed these things from the sophisticated and educated and revealed them to ordinary folks.  (Matthew 11:25 JNT) 

This is also the perspective from which He said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.? For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:29 JNT)

How do Hebraic and Hellenistic Perspectives Differ? 

A holistic Hebraic perspective looks to God as a Creator who created man to have an intimate, unified relationship with Him, and unifying relationships with others.  It focuses thoughts around the simplicity of God’s ways, which are relational in nature; not the complexity of man’s ways, which are rational in nature.

While a rational way seems right to the human mind, it has an inherent limitations. This is because God our Creator designed us to process from the inside-out; from His Spirit in the heart outward. Such a perspective is found through faith by a soft heart that can receive the flow of His Spirit. As we come to revelation of truth, faith is affirmed by an inner peace.

Man’s tendency, on the other hand, is to be drawn to outward appearances and rationalize through the intellect. Through such outside-in processing, we may deduce much, but fall short of understanding and achieving God’s best.   

This is because a more Hebraic or holistic perspective helps us see a bigger picture of things and the parts as they relate and are relevant to the whole. This view inherently provides more insight than a limiting view of detached parts, for it enables us to see, unify and process dynamic and relational aspects of life around God’s purposes and designs. See the differences.

How Have All Missed God?

The apostle, Paul, made an astounding observation:  Jews and Greeks alike missed God and therefore, “fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)

How? While the Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle have made great contributions to many fields like science and mathematics, they got so caught up trying to rationalize God, that they missed understanding the nature of His Spirit and ways.  Their thoughts, however, had significant influence upon Jewish and Christian theologians alike.

One such Jewish philosopher was Philo of Alexandria. Philo’s thoughts were embraced by Christians because he developed a form of philosophy that combined the popular teachings of Greek thinkers like Plato with those of the Jewish rabbis. One of his particular contributions was in the way he allegorized scripture and interpreted a popular line of thought termed dualism.     

Dualism, popularized by Plato, at its root, distinguishes an inferior material world from a superior spiritual world.  Along that line of thought, it sees man being composed of two distinct substances: a physical intellect and spiritual soul.  Philo also saw God in two similar lights: a superior creator; and an administrative mediator he called Logos. He, therefore, separated God the Creator from the things He created—specifically man and the earth.  He taught that only through science and reason could truth be found.

Since he separated God from His creations, Philo reasoned that scripture was not to be taken literally, but allegorically and figuratively. His philosophy, therefore, promoted debates that divided streams of religious thought, rather than unifying them around God’s Word breathed by His Spirit. Such thought gave way to various strange doctrines and forms of mysticism, causing people to doubt God’s truths, and keep them from knowing His heart.  Unfortunately, church reformers over the ages, while seeking truth, maintained various strains of these Hellenistic philosophies.

The Call to See Heaven Open

Friends, when the word of God is opened and revealed by the Spirit of God one can’t help but see truth from a clear perspective.  God calls this open vision.  The words of Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, echo in the hearts of those who will hear through open ears, and see through open eyes, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open.”  (John 1:51)

I pray God will continue to open wide the eyes of your understanding, and His truths become your reality.